Africa Reaffirms Commitment to Nutrition: Strengthening Health Systems for Sustainable Development

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March 28, 2025

Africa Reaffirms Commitment to Nutrition: Strengthening Health Systems for Sustainable Development

"Advancing Nutrition Financing and Accountability: A Unified African Approach"

Paris, France, – The African Union Commission (AUC), in partnership with the Kingdom of Lesotho, the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, the African Development Bank (AfDB), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and Nutrition International, successfully co-hosted a high-level side event at the 2025 Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Summit. Held on March 28, 2025, the event was under the theme “Advancing Nutrition Financing and Accountability: A Unified African Approach” and served as a strategic platform to reinforce Africa’s commitment to tackling malnutrition and improving nutrition outcomes across the continent.

The side event was attended by key stakeholders, including African leaders, international organizations, civil society representatives, development banks, and the private sector. The event aimed to strengthen the continent’s efforts in mobilizing innovative financing and enhancing accountability for nutrition programs, ensuring that nutrition is a priority for both governments and partners.

Key Highlights

Africa’s Commitment to Ending Malnutrition: His Majesty King Letsie III, the African Union Nutrition Champion, reiterated the critical role of nutrition in driving socio-economic development. He called on governments, development partners, and the private sector to align efforts and resources to combat malnutrition in all its forms across the continent.
Innovative Financing for Nutrition: The event showcased innovative financing mechanisms and highlighted the importance of domestic and international resource mobilization. Delegations from various African countries, including Ethiopia, Zambia, and Kenya, underscored their commitment to increasing investments in nutrition-sensitive programs.
Multisectoral Approach to Nutrition: Discussions emphasized integrating nutrition into all sectors, aligning national policies with international nutrition goals, and implementing the Strategic Framework for Anaemia Prevention in Africa. This approach aims to accelerate progress in reducing anaemia and improving maternal and child nutrition.
Key Announcements: The “Africa N4G Communique” was disseminated during the event, reaffirming the importance of nutrition in Africa’s socio-economic development. This communiqué outlines Africa’s strategic priorities, including scaling up nutrition financing, enhancing food security, and reducing the burden of anaemia.
Commitment to Action: The event concluded with a strong call to action for stakeholders to commit to implementing the N4G commitments, focusing on innovative financing mechanisms and strengthening accountability frameworks to ensure sustained progress on nutrition goals.

Call to Action

The event called on African Heads of State, Ministers of Health, Finance, and other key stakeholders to:

Prioritize nutrition financing: Ensure that nutrition becomes a cornerstone of Africa’s development agenda, with sustained domestic investments.
Implement multisectoral approaches: Integrate nutrition into all sectors, including agriculture, education, and health.
Strengthen accountability: Establish robust monitoring systems to track progress and ensure the effective use of funds.

As the African continent takes significant strides toward eliminating malnutrition, the N4G Summit served as a pivotal moment to unite stakeholders and galvanize renewed political and financial commitment.

For more information contact:

Derrick Oduck Ochuot | Strategic Communication Expert | African Union Commission | E-mail: OchuotD@Africa-union.org

Janet Faith Adhiambo Ochieng | Information and Communication Directorate | African Union Commission | E-mail: Ochiengj@Africa-union.org